Anastrozole - In early breast cancer

Anastrozole, a nonsteroidal selective aromatase inhibitor, has recently been approved in the US and several other countries for the adjuvant treatment of postmenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive early breast cancer. In the Arimidex, Tamoxifen Alone or in Combination (ATAC) trial, anastrazole 1mg was significantly more effective than tamoxifen 20mg or combined treatment (17 and 19% relative risk reduction) for disease-free survival in postmenopausal women with early breast cancer. A Anastrazole was also significantly more effective than tamoxifen for time to tumour recurrence and the odds of a primary contralateral tumour as a first event. During the first 2 years of treatment with anastrozole, tamoxifen or the combination, patient quality of life was similar in all treatment groups. Compared with tamoxifen, anastrozole was associated with a significantly lower incidence of vaginal bleeding, vaginal discharge, hot flushes, endometrial cancer, ischaemic cerebrovascular events, venous thromboembolic events and deep vein thrombosis including pulmonary embolism; tamoxifen was associated with a lower incidence of musculoskeletal disorders and fracture.